The Document Chest

1672 Will of Mathew Wills Jnr

Parchment maker

 

Mathew Wills was a parchment maker and one of five generations all called Mathew Wills.

From his will, we know that his father was named Mathew and his wife was called Mary - the marriage of 19 September 1654 between Mathew Wills and Mary Stride at St John's church, is likely to have been this Mathew. They had a son Mathew and a daughter named Anne.

 

1672 Will of Mathew Wills Jnr

 

In the name of God Amen The Nynth day of January In the year of our Lord God one Thousand Six Hundred Seaventy and Two I Matthew Wills of Yeavell in the County of Somersett Parchment Maker being sick and weake in Body But of perfect mind and memory (Thanks be given unto God therefore) Calling to mind the Mortality of my body And knowing That it is appointed for all men once to dye Doe make and ordain this my last will and Testament in manner and forme following (that is to say) First and principally I give my soule into the hands of God that gave it mee hopeing through the meritts death and passion of my Saviour Jesus Christ to have full and free pardon and forgivenes of all my Sinnes and inheritt Everlasting life And for my Body I Comend it to the Earth To be buried in decent and Christian manner (at the discretion of my Executrix hereinafter named) not doubting but att the generall Resurrection I shall [become?] the same againe by the mighty power of God And as touching such worldly Estate wherewith it hath pleased God to Bless me in this life I give devise bequeath and dispose the same in manner and forme following First I give and bequeath unto my wife Mary Wills All the remainder of all the Estate right Title and Interest That I now have or shall dye possessed of in all that my Burgage or dwellinghouse the which I now liveth in with the appurtenances thereunto belonging and apperteyning Together with all outhouses as [Hovells?] Pittehouse orchard and Backside adjoyning and properly belonging the Same Item I give and bequeath unto my said wife Mary Wills All and singular the remainder of yeares which are unexpired and yet to come in my Stable Item I give and bequeath unto my said wife Mary Wills All the Estate right Title and interest That I have in my Higher Garden (The which my late Father Matthew Wills deceased purchased of my Uncle Boone) Item I give and bequeath unto my said wife Mary Wills All and singular the remainder of yeares which are unexpired and yet to come in my Barne with the appurtenances thereunto belonging (Adjoining to the land of Sir John Sydenham Baronett) Item I give and bequeath unto my said wife Mary Wills The six acres of land (be it more or less) Commonly called Crooked Oak scituate in East Coker for and during the Term of her natural life And from and after her decease unto my Heirs for evermore Provided always That my said wife Mary Wills shall pay or cause to be paid unto my sonne Mathew Wills or to my overseers hereafter named or to the Major part of them the full sume of Fifty pounds within Two yeares next after my deceased And my Will is That my said Overseers or the Major Part of them shall secure the said money (so paid unto them as aforesaid) at their discretion for my said sonns best benefitt untill he shall accomplish the age of one and twenty yeares Item I give and bequeath unto my daughter Anne Wills The sume of Fifty pounds To be paid when my said daughter shall accomplish the age of one and twenty yeares if my Executrix hereafter named shall soe long abide and keepe her selfe in my name and unmarried But if my said Executrix shall happen to be married before my said daughter shall accomplish the age of one and twenty yeares as aforesaid or chall happen to dye before the said Time be Compleated and ended That then my will is The the said Sume of Fifty pounds shall forthwith on her marriage or decease (or within Ten dauyes after) be paid unto my overseers or to the major Parte of them That shall then [word illegible] And they att their discretion to dispose thereof for my said daughters best benefitt untill she shall accomplish the said Age of one and twenty yeares as aforesaid And whn my said son and daughter shall accomplish their respective Termes of of yeares as aforesaid That then it shall and may be lawfull to and for my overseers on their receipt of each of thir respective Legacies To demand and take a discharge or [word illegible] Release under his and her hand and seale for receiving his and her respective portions as aforesaid And my will is That my Executrix shall maintaine my said Sonne and daughter with sufficient Apparell both Lynen and woollen meate drinke washing and lodging And all other necessary untill such tyme as their respective portions appointed to be paid as aforesaid (by this my said will shall Become due All the Rest and Residue of my Personall Estate money goods household stuffe and Chattells whatsoever I doe give and bequeath unto my loveing wife whome I doe make my full and sole Executrix of this my Last will and Testament And I desire John Maggs Sen of Penceford in the County of Somersett gent Thomas Maggs of the same place gent and James Marks of Yeavell aforesaid Innholder To be my Overseers of this my Last Will and Testament giveing unto each of them within one Months tyme of my decease The Sume of Two Shillings and Six pence To be paid by my said Executrix And I doe hereby revoake [disamull?] and make void All former wills and testaments by me heretofore made Ratifying and confirming this and none other To be my last will and testament In Witness whereof I the said Mathew Wills have hereunto sett my hand and seale the day and yeare First above written 1672

Matthew Wills

Signed sealed published pronounced and declared by the said Mathew Wills as his last will and Testament in the presence of us [Larens?] Adams & John Baston


Transcribed by Bob Osborn